3-Week Africa Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 3-week Africa tour itineraries

Compiled by

NadineAfrica travel expert at TourRadar

• 21 Day Southern Africa Itinerary, incl. Victoria Falls and Cape Town

  A grand 21-day safari spans 14 campsites across 4 countries and 2,500km. Key features include 2 nights at Victoria Falls, 3 nights exploring Etosha's wildlife, and stunning desert camps at Spitzkoppe and Sossusvlei. Average 4-5 hours drive between destinations.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe:

    Start at Victoria Falls where morning mist creates rainbows over the world's largest waterfall. "The falls were absolutely breathtaking - get there by 8AM before crowds arrive and bring a waterproof case for your phone." Book whitewater rafting ($120) or helicopter flights ($160) well in advance. The falls look most impressive from March to May during high water but you'll get soaked on the viewing platforms.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Chobe & Gweta, Botswana:

    Cross into Botswana and head to Chobe National Park. You'll need a yellow fever certificate if coming from risk countries. Take an evening boat cruise to spot elephants drinking at the riverbank. Wildlife viewing is better from boats than vehicles here. The 7-hour drive south to Gweta is bumpy but paved. You'll camp under ancient baobab trees.

    
  • Days 5-7

    Okavango Delta & Kalahari:

    From Maun you can take a light aircraft flight over the Delta ($120) for amazing views. Travel by mokoro (dugout canoe) to your bush camp but pack light. "Sleeping in the Delta was incredible," one reviewer shared. "We could hear hippos grunting all night from our tents." You can visit a San Bushmen community in D'kar to learn about their culture.

    
  • Days 8-11

    Namibia's Wildlife:

    Drive 8-9 hours to Windhoek then head north to Etosha National Park. You'll have two full days for wildlife viewing. The park's waterholes attract lots of animals during dry season (May-December). Next stop is Spitzkoppe with its unique rock formations. Bring good hiking shoes since the granite gets slippery.

    
  • Days 12-14

    Swakopmund & Desert:

    This German colonial town sits between ocean and desert. Try sandboarding (600 NAD) or scenic flights (3500 NAD). "The Skeleton Coast flight was expensive but absolutely worth it," noted one traveler. "Book early morning flights for best visibility."

    
  • Days 15-17

    Namib Desert & Fish River:

    See the towering red dunes at Sossusvlei. Climb Dune 45 early before the sand heats up. The 5-hour drive to Fish River Canyon is remote but mostly good roads. Fill your water bottles whenever possible. The canyon is Africa's largest.

    
  • Days 18-21

    South Africa's Cape:

    Travel through the Cederberg Mountains to Cape Town. Stop at the !Khwa ttu San Culture Centre along the way. Your trip ends in Cape Town where Table Mountain stands tall. "Book the cable car ($293 ZAR) online to avoid queues," advised a recent visitor. "And check the website - the cable car closes in high winds."

    

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• 21 Day East Africa Itinerary, incl. Victoria Falls and Serengeti

  A thrilling 21-day route covers 22 cities across Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, and Kenya. Notable stops include Victoria Falls, 3 days in Serengeti/Ngorongoro, 4 days in Zanzibar, and visits to South Luangwa and Lake Malawi. Features 16 nights camping with 4 nights in tourist-class hotels.

  

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  • Day 1

    Victoria Falls to South Luangwa National Park

    Start your adventure at Victoria Falls in Livingstone, Zambia. Take an early morning drive to Lusaka (7-8 hours) to beat city traffic, then continue to South Luangwa National Park. The park is famous for its leopards, and you'll want to book afternoon game drives when wildlife is most active. One visitor shared: "We were fortunate to get VERY close to a pair of lions in heat in South Luangwa - the game viewing was incredible."

    
  • Day 2

    Lake Malawi Beach Time

    Next, head to Lake Malawi for some beach time at Kande and Chitimba. Pack water shoes since the lake bottom is rocky. The water can get rough, which might affect your planned activities. Take a village walk in the early morning when it's cooler, and bring small bills if you want to buy local crafts.

    
  • Days 3-5

    Journey through Tanzania's Southern Highlands

    Your journey through Tanzania's Southern Highlands includes some long driving days. Stop at Mikumi National Park, where you'll often spot wildlife grazing near the road. Plan to leave early for Dar es Salaam as traffic gets heavy. The temperatures climb significantly here, so staying hydrated is essential.

    
  • Day 6

    Ferry Ride to Zanzibar

    Take the two-hour ferry ride to Zanzibar (the water can be choppy). Visit Stone Town's markets early to avoid the heat. For safety, stay in busy areas and don't walk alone at night. Head to Nungwi beach between 9-11am for the best snorkeling and sailing conditions, before the afternoon winds pick up.

    
  • Day 7

    Drive through Sisal Plantations to Marangu

    Back on the mainland, drive through sisal plantations to Marangu. You'll get great views of Kilimanjaro in the early morning. Stop in Arusha to stock up on supplies before safari prices increase.

    
  • Days 8-21

    Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari

    For your final leg, switch to 4x4s for the Serengeti and Ngorongoro. One traveler suggests: "Pack layers for Ngorongoro - the rim gets very cold at 2,400m elevation." Start your crater floor game drives at dawn for the best wildlife viewing. Remember that migration patterns change with seasons, so research wildlife movements before booking.

    

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• 21 Day Southern Africa Itinerary, incl. Cape Town and Victoria Falls

  A grand 21-day safari spans 4 countries, visiting 17 destinations from Cape Town to Victoria Falls. The route includes Namibia's Sossusvlei dunes, Botswana's Okavango Delta, and Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls, with activities from desert hikes to mokoro safaris, all for approx. $140 per day.

  

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  • Days 1-2

    Cape Town & Cederberg

    Begin in Cape Town before moving to Cederberg. Visit the G Adventures-supported !Khwa ttu San Culture Centre. "The wine tasting in Cederberg was a perfect way to bond with the group early on," according to a recent traveler. Pack light layers since Cape Town mornings are cool but afternoons warm up nicely.

    
  • Days 3-4

    Orange River & Fish River Canyon

    Enter Namibia and set up camp by the Orange River. You can go canoeing for 400 ZAR if interested. Head to Fish River Canyon for sunset views. Get there by 4:30 PM for optimal lighting. The 5-hour drive is bumpy, so grab a seat near the front of the Lando if you get carsick.

    
  • Days 5-6

    Namib Desert & Sossusvlei

    Start early to climb Dune 45 at sunrise before the sand heats up. Wear closed shoes because the sand gets scorching hot. Visit the striking Deadvlei for an extra fee. A previous traveler noted: "Climbing the dunes at dawn was challenging but the views made it worthwhile. Bring a scarf to protect from blowing sand."

    
  • Days 7-8

    Swakopmund

    Explore this beach town with its German colonial charm. You'll have two free days for activities like sandboarding (700 NAD) or scenic flights (4,800 NAD). Book skydiving early since spots fill up fast. You'll switch from camping to staying in a guesthouse here.

    
  • Days 9-10

    Spitzkoppe & Etosha National Park

    Camp at the striking Spitzkoppe formations. No running water here, so bring wet wipes. Spend a full day wildlife spotting in Etosha. In dry season (May-October), animals gather at waterholes between 10 AM and 2 PM.

    
  • Days 11-13

    Waterberg Plateau to Windhoek

    Go hiking at Waterberg before reaching Windhoek. Stop at Joe's Beerhouse to try local game meat. Some travelers end or start their journey here.

    
  • Days 14-17

    Botswana - D'kar & Okavango Delta

    Learn about San Bushmen culture in D'kar. Spend two days exploring the Okavango Delta by mokoro (dugout canoe). Basic bush camping without showers. One guest shared: "The Delta bush camp was rustic but watching elephants walk past while having breakfast made it unforgettable."

    
  • Days 18-21

    Chobe National Park & Victoria Falls

    Take the Chobe sunset cruise to see elephants up close. Finish at Victoria Falls with options like whitewater rafting (120 USD) or helicopter rides. If you want to visit Devil's Pool (August-December), book well in advance.

    

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